But living a sober curious lifestyle is different, and here’s why. Now that you are sober, you may have discovered that some of your past relationships were not only unhealthy but downright toxic. It’s not just your drinking buddies and drug dealers who can get you into trouble—sometimes those who are closest to you can contribute to a relapse.
Owning a Successful Bar While Maintaining Sobriety – Cesar Vallin’s Story at Cloak & Petal
Holding a drink – whether it’s sparkling water, a soda, or a mocktail – makes it less likely anyone will ask why you’re not drinking. If someone asks why you’re not drinking, keep it light and simple. ‘I’m just taking a break’, or, ‘I’m trying something different’ usually does the trick without inviting further questions.
We’re all just trying to find our way through. I was a blackout drunk, meaning I would wake up and, just like the movie Memento, I’d have to retrace my steps from the night before, seeking physical clues of my whereabouts and asking my friends “what happened? ” This was often followed by apologies for transgressions I had no recollection of committing.
You don’t need to numb your pain, or look for an escape with alcohol. You can simply heal.
I could reconcile that version of myself with the person I am now. Shame can be its own addiction, one that often leads to substance use. I realized that I wasn’t alone and I wasn’t horrible, even if I had done some horrible things. Most importantly, pay attention to your body, and be aware of the effects of alcohol on your mind and body. If you do decide to start drinking again, hopefully your break from drinking will help you have a healthier relationship with alcohol going forward — which is one of the goals of the sober curious movement. If you’ve ever heard of the term “sober curious,” you may be wondering how it’s different from month-long sobriety challenges like Dry January or Sober October or even being completely sober.
Want to know what else I’ve lost track of?
- Because I think about my recovery as an active process, I like using active language to describe it.
- And it’s that’s what has made all the difference.
- I cry at sappy commercials and laugh about how it affects me.
- Waking up with a raging hangover, cringing at texts or apologising for things I didn’t remember wasn’t empowering; it was confirmation that I was using alcohol as a crutch to manage insecurity and discomfort.
- This can boost your self-esteem and confidence, which are essential for a fulfilling life.
- There is a quiet ferocity that comes with quitting alcohol.
People working to improve their lives despite being, as we all are, unfailingly flawed and human. Recovery and sobriety mean different things to different people. For me, sobriety means abstinence from any deliberate alcohol consumption.
Stories Of What *Really* Happened When People Decided To Become Sober
If I do something that requires an apology these days, it comes from a place of genuine misunderstanding. That is much easier to handle than drunk shenanigans that sober house got out of hand. That’s not what strong friendships are built on. Sobriety is going to show what real relationships can look like. Re-evaluating your relationships with other people is part of the process. If you feel numb, like you’re in a fog, or have nothing going on – this is possibly one of the reasons.
- It may also be helpful to get to know yourself on your own, first.
- I love not having to worry that the organs inside my body are having to process a shit-load of carcinogenic crap every day.
- Stock up on non-alcoholic options you love, like alcohol-free beers, kombucha, or fancy mocktails.
- If you’re interested in receiving support, you can schedule a free 15-min consultation here.
Dry January Tastings at Zerø Proof Beverage House
Feeling like you want to drink or use is not inherently dangerous. https://appsychology.com/living-in-a-sober-house/ But feeling that way and keeping it to yourself, or trying to ignore or suppress those feelings, definitely can be. Not only was I putting myself at risk for long-term health issues, I felt constantly fatigued, got sick often, and suffered frequent aches and pains, both from hangovers and drinking-related injuries. Within weeks of quitting drinking, people noticed a physical change.
Chronic alcohol use can impair your cognitive functions, affecting your memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. One of the benefits of being sober is the restoration of these cognitive functions, which can enhance your ability to work and learn, contributing to a more productive and fulfilling life. The journey to self love can be slow and difficult but in order to help you get there, there are some simple things you can do every single day to make yourself feel good. I don’t have that much sex, and that’s more like me saying, I no longer lower my standards and sleep with just anyone because of beer goggles. There’s no easy pass for me anymore, no more getting drunk and slipping past the part where you get to know each other.
I just sprinted through my tasks, waving away red flags and I really saw that glass of wine as my reward. And it became the medicine, the thing to put the brakes on the sprint, a false force quit – I had lost the natural skill of resting and winding down. She also is co-author of two best-selling books on holistic sober living Love Yourself Sober (Welbeck 2020) and Love Your Sober Year (Hachette 2022.) and has recently qualified as a Yoga Teacher. Start your alcohol-free journey today with Love Sober and discover how good you can feel.
Things That Inevitably Happen to Your Personal Life When You Get Sober
People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources. She told me the worst thing I could do is sit down or stop, so I pushed on.
If you have, or suspect that you have, a medical problem, contact your health care provider right away. Two years of drinking lemon water has been a blast. Once you do return to work, it’s important to create a budget and take steps to safeguard yourself as work stress can be a relapse trigger. Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how to avoid repeating mistakes and build better habits. If PAWS is severe or if you’re experiencing prolonged symptoms, a medical professional can help you work through them and remain in recovery without relapse.